Focused use of chatroom

[dawei]

Censorship? Segregation? Scheduled chat times?

I'd rather see you shut the chatroom down completely.

 

maybe that is easy for someone to say who doesn't use the chat room, yes?

 

Why not just go back to the way it was since the beginning?

 

Because self-segregation unfolded. 

 

The chat room has been used for energy stuff for several years but now there are complaints that folks can't 'chat' without feeling the effect of energy. 

 

I think all these discussions are a good wake-up to what energy is and how we are living in its midst.   And it may reflect shifts in how TDB could harness newer technology to meet some of these needs.

[doc benway]

maybe that is easy for someone to say who doesn't use the chat room, yes?

 

Very easy, yes.

I've been in there a handful of times for a handful of minutes.

I'm not much of a chat room person but still have plenty of opinions!

[thelerner]

How about this?

If you are uncomfortable with something being discussed in a chatroom, ask if the subject can be changed, if others would prefer not to change the subject, leave...

 

Better yet, stick around and allow yourself to feel this discomfort.

Listen to what others are saying, stay with it, open to how it feels and what it brings up for you.

 

It is not the subject matter or the other people that are the problem, it is something in you.

Look at what that tells you about yourself.

Perhaps it is something you need to help you grow.

 

Censorship? Segregation? Scheduled chat times?

I'd rather see you shut the chatroom down completely.

That sounds really really adult.  It may be more maturity then we can handle.. or maybe not. 

Try politeness, once, twice, then rat'em out..??  

 

maybe something like..

a person gets enough complaints about abusing the chatroom and they get booted out for a day or three.  get a warning, then are booted out for a while? 

 

I'd still rather have everyone act like adults.  Leave if you don't like the language or ask them politely to stop or go to Private Chat..  Act like polite adults and there should be no problem.

 

on the third hand.

There is a chance that this won't be much a problem at all.  That we're making a mountain out of mole hill, that abuse is rare and can be handled easily with a warning or two. 

[Apech]

I'm not aware that it was simple as that.   Two issues I know of are:

1. complaints of energy leakage based on sexual practices and that it affected someone after two weeks of visiting chat to feel it repeatedly and affected their dreams.

2. Use of sexual, vulgar slang terms made some uncomfortable

 

 

As a chat regular I would say - 

1. I wonder how much the sexcapades thread put this in peoples minds and actually upped the tension generally.  It gave the impression of lurid goings on which I have to say I neither saw, picked up on or took part in.  the whole issue has been blown completely out of proportion.  Also if people are doing retention and so on - they are already messing with their own sexual energy - sometimes in not very intelligent ways.

 

2. There was an upsurge in parody and joking around about sexcapades as well - which was not there before - so regular members (and I hold my hands up here) were often making jokes to diffuse the situation.  Some members are very pious and find this off putting -  but personally I hope we just let things calm down rather than attempt some kind of crack down on jokes - which would be very prudish for DBs.

 

We need to let this go - its a storm in a tea cup - there are bigger issues to address IMO.

 

If you are thinking about timetabled events - well remember we are all in different time zones - what makes sense in the US will not make sense in Europe and Australia.

 

I want chat to remain a free to drop in drop out location for social interaction.  If you turn it into anything else it just won't work.

Edited September 13, 2016 by Apech

[RiverSnake]

I'm not aware that it was simple as that.   Two issues I know of are:

1. complaints of energy leakage based on sexual practices and that it affected someone after two weeks of visiting chat to feel it repeatedly and affected their dreams.

2. Use of sexual, vulgar slang terms made some uncomfortable

The "core" issue....the center from which many other issues emanate.

 

Also now that we have a shielding and cleansing thread people can educate themselves on how to make sure they don't absorb other peoples funky spunk. 

 

In terms of vulgar language, i guess it makes sense to refer to the forum guidelines and see if it violates anything. I know when i am out in the real world talking to my guy friends that we talk quite vulgarly to the point it would make most Taoists blush. I think this reflects the difference between "chatting" and more formal conversations we have in the forum area. This can also reflect the difference in communication style between men and women. As men we tend to be quite crass and direct in our speech (atleast that is the culture where i am). 

Edited September 13, 2016 by OldChi

[Apech]

The "core" issue....the center from which many other issues emanate.

 

Also now that we have a shielding and cleansing thread people can educate themselves on how to make sure they don't absorb other peoples funky spunk. 

 

In terms of vulgar language, i guess it makes sense to refer to the forum guidelines and see if it violates anything. I know when i am out in the real world talking to my guy friends that we talk quite vulgarly to the point it would make most Taoists blush. I think this reflects the difference between "chatting" and more formal conversations we have in the forum area. This can also reflect the difference in communication style between men and women. As men we tend to be quite crass and direct in our speech (atleast that is the culture where i am). 

 

Funky spunk .... ha ha.

[dawei]

As a chat regular I would say - 

1. I wonder how much the sexcapades thread put this in peoples minds and actually upped the tension generally.  It gave the impression of lurid goings on which I have to say I neither saw, picked up on or took part in.  the whole issue has been blown completely out of proportion.  Also if people are doing retention and so on - they are already messing with their own sexual energy - sometimes in not very intelligent ways.

 

2. There was an upsurge in parody and joking around about sexcapades as well - which was not there before - so regular members (and I hold my hands up here) were often making jokes to diffuse the situation.  Some members are very pious and find this off putting -  but personally I hope we just let things calm down rather than attempt some kind of crack down on jokes - which would be very prudish for DBs.

 

We need to let this go - its a storm in a tea cup - there are bigger issues to address IMO.

 

I don't disagree and I closed that thread two weeks ago...  seems it touched on some nerves for sure as people continue to talk about it.

 

 

If you are thinking about timetabled events - well remember we are all in different time zones - what makes sense in the US will not make sense in Europe and Australia.   

I want chat to remain a free to drop in drop out location for social interaction.  If you turn it into anything else it just won't work.

 

 

 

Yes, worldwide timetables is a bit of a problem which will be considered.

 

It is not about really turning into something else but it has already become something else.   The answer to one or two or three not wanting any group energy work and instead wanting 100% chat is not the historical design nor use.   If folks want to hang out in chat 6 hours a day for 5x a week, they cannot be catered to any more than a desire to over-run it with energy practices.

 

I wonder how  many times this year, nine months in... how many times was group energy work performed?  I don't think one could add it up and use all their fingers.

 

The goal is to get back to what was original intention of chat without too much significant change unless folks cannot accept the original and historical use.

 

What I'm hearing is that folks should be able to pop in and out to chat... but not pop in and out to do group energy work?  that was never a restriction till you raised it.    I have listened to that.  I also listened to others complain of energy sensations in chat. 

 

Hopefully we get to a more responsible overall approach by all sides.

[Brian]

I just popped into this thread for a moment to comment that, every time I see the title in the New Content list, my brain reads it as "Forced use of chatroom."

 

Just thought this was curious.

[silent thunder]

I'm with Apech on this... some folks have blown this absurdly out of proportion. 

We are adults...  Take responsibility for your actions and if you don't like something, stop trying to make the world act like you do, like what you do and appreciate only what you do... it will just never happen.

 

Chat works like any other media, if you don't like it, be an adult... turn it off and perhaps take that time to go and practice.

[RiverSnake]

There is a saying: "Good ideas don't require force." 

Edited September 13, 2016 by OldChi

[Michael Sternbach]

There is an aspect that I feel to be sadly lacking in this discussion. With any rules, there comes the need to enforce them. In this context, this means that people's private chat conversations are being read by staff because somebody "felt some energy" or had some dream.

 

Is what is to be gained worth the diminished privacy and confidentiality? If so, then I wonder what has happened to the spirit of Lao-Tzu this forum was breathing once.

[RiverSnake]

There is an aspect that I feel to be sadly lacking in this discussion. With any rules, there comes the need to enforce them. In this context, this means that people's private chat conversations are being read by staff because somebody "felt some energy" or had some dream.

 

Is what is to be gained worth the diminished privacy and confidentiality? If so, then I wonder what has happened to the spirit of Lao-Tzu this forum was breathing once.

 

 

Indeed, "the more corrupt the state, the more it legislates." Tacitus (lets not go down this route) 

Edited September 13, 2016 by OldChi

[dawei]

There is an aspect that I feel to be sadly lacking in this discussion. With any rules, there comes the need to enforce them. In this context, this means that people's private chat conversations are being read by staff because somebody "felt some energy" or had some dream.

 

That is actually not true...  I appreciate in advance you would cease repeated attempts to create disharmony with stories. 

[ilumairen]

In the present tense...

[Michael Sternbach]

That is actually not true...  I appreciate in advance you would cease repeated attempts to create disharmony with stories. 

 

Read Ilumairen's post above...

 

What I said is obviously  a warning of what to expect - based on your mention of folks "feeling energies" and experiencing dreams and what you recently shared in chat about the potential implementation of the newest rule using the tools that Admin has at their disposal.

 

And, BTW, I'm not "telling stories." I would appreciate in advance you would  cease repeated attempts to smother any expression of what I consider valid concerns.

Edited September 14, 2016 by Michael Sternbach

[Michael Sternbach]

In the present tense...

 

Thank you for reading my post carefully.

Edited September 14, 2016 by Michael Sternbach

[dawei]

There was a basic energy poll done here:

 

http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/41937-energy-work-poll/

 

 

I'll start one on more on the Use of Chat in General as well...

[dawei]

Energy Work in Chat Poll

 

http://www.thedaobums.com/topic/41942-energy-work-in-chat-poll/

[RiverSnake]

Gotta give it to Southpark. 

 

[dawei]

Read Ilumairen's post above...

 

What I said is obviously  a warning of what to expect - based on your mention of folks "feeling energies" and experiencing dreams and what you recently shared in chat about the potential implementation of the newest rule using the tools that Admin has at their disposal.

 

And, BTW, I'm not "telling stories." I would appreciate in advance you would  cease repeated attempts to smother any expression of what I consider valid concerns.

 

In chat I did answer generically given prohibitive requirements in chat.  What that means can be many different things.  But I did not say that cause-effect you mentioned. 

 

BTW: You and a few others asked for prohibitive requirement changes to chat... a fundamental change from the historical usage of chat.  That is how this whole thing got started.

 

For now, I'm trying to focus on a poll that sees what folks think regarding the use (requirement) of chat.   This will be considered in whether the chat should change from its original use or just go back (with or without some other additions--notice, link).  It may even take a second poll to understand more.

 

Software solutions will continue to be explored but we're not able to upgrade yet as it won't support our current PPD and Owner's Permissions... The next version is a huge change in functional permissions.  We may not be able to support that in the end  (separate issue but fyi).

 

In regards to chat, in the end, Sean will be consulted so he can weight in and be allowed the final decision.  

[liminal_luke]

In a sense, it doesn´t really matter what the rules are for chat.  It could be a cyber-brothel adjunct (phrasing courtesy of A&P), a hotbed of kundalini awakening, or a place for casual conversation about pizza and politics (phrasing courtesy of Jeff).  It all works as long as the Bums who like said activity use it, and the Bums who don´t choose to stay out.

 

Not so long ago we didn´t have a chat room.  Now we do.  I´ve never wanted to chat so I don´t.  But for those with a more chatty disposition, the addition is all for the good.  .

Edited September 14, 2016 by liminal_luke

[rene]

In a sense, it doesn´t really matter what the rules are for chat. It could be a cyber-brothel adjunct (phrasing courtesty of A&P), a hotbed of kundalini awakening, or a place for casual conversation about pizza and politics (phrasing courtesty of Jeff). It all works as long as the Bums who like said activity use it, and the Bums who don´t choose to stay out.

 

Not so long ago we didn´t have a chat room. Now we do. I´ve never wanted to chat so I don´t. But for those with a more chatty disposition, the addition is all for the good. .

Yeppers & well said.

[lessdaomorebum]

I think that only software can solve this problem. If you can't have multiple, invitation only chat rooms, the problem can't be solved, IMHO. I have been in chat a number of times. Sometimes it was people engaging in a harmless but now banned energy practice. Other times it was random chat. Random chat threw me for a loop since the site is The Dao Bums.